Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 654,069. Patented July l7, I900. E. S. MARTINDALE.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 28, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Nr'rnn TATES ATENT rricn.

EDWVARD S. MARTINDALE, OF WARREN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KIN NEARMANUFACTURING COMPANY, LIMITED, OF SAME PLACE.

ACETYLENE-GAQS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,069, datedJ'uly1'7, 1900.

Application filed February 28, 1899 To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. MARTIN- DALE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Warren, in the county of Varren and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-GasGenerators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in acetylene-generators, and moreparticularly to improvements in that form of generating apparatusdescribed and claimed in my application, Serial No. 698,759, filedDecember 9, 1898.

One of the principalobjects of the present invention relates toimprovements in the means for discharging the carbid into the Water ofthe generator. In my said applica tion I have shown and described arevoluble circular frame carrying a series of pivoted buckets designedto be upset in the revolution of the frame to discharge the carbid. Inthe present case I support a number of pivoted buckets in a stationaryframe and successively upset said buckets by mechanism operated by themovements of the gasholder.

A further object of the invention relates to the provision of means fordetermining the number of buckets that have been dumped.

A further object of the invention relates to an improved liquid-sealdevice through which the gas passes from the generator to thegas-holder.

Other objects of. the invention relate to details of construction andoperations of parts, which will more clearly appear from the detaileddescription of the invention hereinafter given.

I hawe illustrated my invention in theaccompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a sectional elevation of a generating apparatus constructedaccording to my invention, a portion of a gas-holder being indicated.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the carbid-container and the means for dumpingthe buckets. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of a safety escapedevice. Fig. dis a sectional view on the line at 4 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5is an end elevation of one of the buckets.

The reference-numeral 1 indicates a cylindrical casing forming the bodyof the gener- 'Serial No. 707,179. (No model.)

ator. Secured in the upper end of this cas ing is a short cylinder 2,and secured on the upper end of the casing 1 and surrounding V the sameand the short cylinder 2 ina manner to altord an annular chamber 3 is acylindrical extension or top 4. The annular chamber 3 is designed tohold water and to' receive a telescoping portion of the cover 5 in amanner to aiford a water seal, as will be understood. Formed integralwith the short cylinder 2 and depending from the same is a funnel 6,having an inclined spout 7, terminating in an inclined chute 8.

The numeral 9 indicates the generating compartment or chamber proper,which comprises a flaring portion 10, secured at its edge to the sidewall of the casing 1 in any suitable manner, and a relatively-longcylindrical portion 11. About midway of the cylindrical 7o portion 11 issecured a grate or screen 12, on which the carbid rests. The lower partof the cylindrical portion 11 affords an ash-receptacle 13 for the limeor residuum dropping through the grate 12, and which matter may beremoved from the receptacle 13 by means of a pipe 14, extending from thebottom thereof through the casing 1. V

The numeral 15 indicates a slide projecting from the bottom of chute 8and formed by wires spaced about a half-inch apart.

The purpose of this slide is to insure that the carbid shall bedischarged in the center of grate 12.

' The numeral 16 indicates a circular flat metal ring, which issurrounded bya similar but much larger ring 17, concentric with the ring16. The rings 16 and 17 are rigidly connected by means of brace-plates18, extending between the rings and located a suitable 9o distance apartin a manner todivide the annular space between the rings into a seriesof compartments, in each one of which is pivotally mounted a bucket 19inthe manner described in my application referred to, the 5 pivots,however, in the present case being located near the top edge of thebucket, as shown at 20 in Fig. 5. At one outer corner of each bucket islocated an outwardly-curved hook 21, the purpose of which will be pres-10o ently explained. On the end of each bucket, adjacent to the hook 21,I provide a stop 22,

which is adapted to engage the upper edge of -ring 17-and hold thebucket in an upright poingplate is a short vertical shaft 25, having asquared upper end 26 and carrying at its lower end a bevel-gear 27.Secured on the side wall of the funnel 6 are two bearings 28 29, whichare diametrically opposite each other.

The numeral 30 indicates a workshaft which extends through the casin gand through the bearing 29 and at its inner end is supported in thebearing 28. Secured on said workshaft is a bevel-gear 31, which mesheswith the bevel-gear 27. A stufiing-box 32 is provided for the work-shaft30, and near its outer end said work-shaft carries a ratchet-wheel 33.

The numeral 34 indicates the bell of a gasholder. Said bell carries atits upper end an arm 35,, upon which is pivotally mounted at its upperend a lever-arm or pawl 36, the lower end of said lever-arm or pawlbeing designed to engage the teeth of the ratchetwheel 33 to turn thesame in the descending movement of the bell. On the squared end 26 ofshaft is mounted at one end an arm 37. Pivotally secured on the outerend of this arm, as shown at 38, is a curved arm 39, which at its freeend is provided with a hook 40, which is designed to successively engagethe hooks '21 of the buckets 19 to upset the latter.

The operation of the device as thus far described is as follows: As gasis consumed the bell 34 will drop gradually until the pawl 36 engagesthe teeth of ratchet-wheel 33 and turns same. This will revolve shaftandthrough the medium of gears 31 and 27 the short vertical shaft 25. Asthis latter shaft revolves it carries the arm 37 around with it in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and in this movement of arm37 the hook 40 on the pivoted arm 39 will successively engage the hook21 of each bucket 19, and thereby cause each bucket in turn to turn onits bearings and discharge its contents into the funnel 6. It

will be understood, of course, that the arm 37 is only movedsufiiciently to dump one bucket in each downward movement of the bell ofthe gas-holder. As the carbid is discharged from each bucket it fallsinto the funnel 6, thence through spout 7 to chute 8, and over the slide15 into the generating-chamber 9, where the main generation ensues. Byarranging the spout '7 and chute 8 as described it will be seen thatwhile the carbid is discharged in the center of the generating-chamberthe construction ofiers no resistance to the free up ward passage of thegas through the water in the cylinder or casing 1. In order to determinethe number of buckets which have been dumped, I secure to the casing inany suitable manner a dial 41, through the center of which the shaft 30extends. Arranged around said dial in the manner of a clock-face arenumbers corresponding to the number of buckets mounted in the frame.Thus if ten buckets are mounted in the frame the numbers on the dial 41will be arranged in numerical order from l to 10. Secured on the shaft30 to turn therewith in operative relation with said dial is a pointeror indicator 42. It will thus be seen that as shaft 30 is only revolvedin one direction the pointer 42, traveling therewith, will serve toindicate on the dial the number of buckets which have been dumped.

The numeral 43 indicates a pipe communicating at its lower end with theinterior of the generator and having a globe-valve 44 and at its upperend a funnel 45. By means of this pipe water can be supplied to theinterior of the generator.

The numerals 45 45" indicate petcocks located at different heights onthe casing 1 and communicating with pipes 46 46, extending downwardbelow the normal water-level in the generator. By means of thisconstruction the height of the water in the generator can be ascertainedwithout any liability of gas escaping through the cock, which is opened.

In case of any unslaked carbid remaining on the grate 12 or of anyforeign substance resting on the grate which it is desirable to removeIprovide the casing of the generatingcompartment 9 with an opening closedby a suitable cover 47, and from the outside of the casing 1 to saidopening leads a clean-out duct 48.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated my improved safety device. The numeral 49indicates a cylindrical upright vessel containing water and having asupply-opening 50 and a discharge-opening 51, which openings arenormally closed. A petcock 52, having a pipe 53, extending below thenormal water-level, is also employed in this device. Communicating atone end with the'interior of the funnel 6, above the water-level thereinand extending through the casing 1, is a pipe 54, which at its oppositeend communicates with the interior of the vessel 49, near the bottomthereof, and within said vessel has a depending end 55. The numeral 56indicates the escape-pipe.

It will be noted that the pipe 8 communicates with the interior of thefunnel 6 and not with the interior of the generating-chamber proper.

The operation of the device will now be ex plained. As a bucket isdumped the carbid in its passage through the water in funnel 6, spout 7,and chute 8 sets up a slight generation of gas, whichbubbles up throughthe water in the spout and funnel and is trapped ICC or held in thatpart of the generator in which the carbid-containeris located. Theamount of gas stored in this part of the apparatus will never be verygreat; but should the pressure by any chance become excessive the gaswill'pass through pipe 54 and force the water out of the bent tube 55and up in the vessel 49, thus breaking the seal, when the gas willbubble up through the water and escape to the air through pipe 56.Should the pressure of the gas in the upper part of thegenerating-chamber beneath the funnel 6 become too great, it will forcethe waterin the generator proper up through spout 7 and through pipes 54and 55 into the chamber 49 and out through pipe 56, and the gasfollowing can escape to the outer air.

The numeral 57 indicates the pipe leading the gas from the upper part ofthe generator into the cylinder 58 of my improved combined liquid sealand gas-purifier device. The pipe 57 has a vertical arrangement, itsupper end being about on a level with the top of the cylinder 58, andcommunicates with the interior of the generator through the upper partof easing 1 and above the water-level therein by means of ahorizontally-arranged pipe 59. At its lower end the pipe 57 communicateswith the interior of cylinder 58 by means of a horizontal branch pipe60. \Vithin the cylinder 58 the pipe 60 has a vertical upwardlyextendingpipe 61, the upper end of which is open. The water-level in the cylinder58 is indicated by the line 00 x, and a petcock 62, having a pipe 63,extending downward a considerable distance below the normal waterlevelin the cylinder 58, is provided in this device to test the height of thewater without any liability of permitting gas to escape. Looselyinclosing the pipe 61 is a sleeve or drum 6%, the lower open end ofwhich is always submerged in the water.

The numeral 65 indicates a float which is connected to the lower end ofdrum 64 by means of rods or hangers (56. A pipe 67 leads from the upperend of the cylinder 58 to the gasometer, and a pipe 68 leads into thelower part of cylinder 58 to supply water thereto. An out-let fromcylinder 58 is provided at 69.

The operation of the device is as follows: As gas is generated it passesthrough the pipe connection described into the drum 64, causing the sameto rise until its lower end is within, say, one inch of the water-levelin cylinder 58. The gas-pressure now operates to drive the water out ofthe drum to the level of its lower end, when the gas will pass out ofthe drum and bubble up through the water and pass through pipe 67 to thegas-holder. The lower end of drum 64 being always submerged in the waterafiords a secure liquid seal which will hold any back pressure from thegas-holder, as will be readily understood.

The end of the branch pipe 60 extends be-.

tween the drum 64: and the float 65, and these parts respectively engagesaid pipe in their up-and-down movement, and the extent'of such movementis thereby controlled.

By the construction described it will be seen that the gas is not onlypurified by passing upward through the water in the generator, but issubmitted to a further purification by being compelled to pass throughthe water on axes substantially radial of the said frame,

and rotary means operating to successively engage said buckets to rotatethem in turn on their pivots and cause them to discharge their contentsinto the generating-chamber, substantially as described.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a gas-holderhaving a movable bell, of a generating-chamber, a carbid-containersupported above the same comprising a circular stationary frame having aseries of buckets circularly arranged and pivotally and rotatablymounted therein on axes substantially radial of the said frame, androtary means operated by said bell to successively engage said bucketsto rotate them in turn on their pivots and cause them to discharge theircontents into the generating-chamber, substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with thegenerating-chamber, of a carbid-container supported above the samecomprising a stationary frame having a series of buckets circularlyarranged and pivotally and rotatably mounted therein, a rotary shafthaving an arm traveling in a circular path above said buckets, and meanscarried by said arm to successively engage said buckets to revolve themin turn on their pivots and cause them to discharge their contents intothe generating-chamber, substantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with thegenerating-chamber, of a carbid-container supported above the samecomprising a stationary frame having a series of buckets pivotallymounted therein, a hook on each of said buckets, an upright shaftsupported in said frame having at its lower end a bevel-gear, ahorizontal shaft having a bevel-gear meshing with that of the uprightshaft, an arm mounted at one end on the opposite end. of said uprightshaft, a curved arm pivotally mounted on the free end of said arm andhaving a hook adapted to successively engage the hooks of said buckets,and means for revolving said horizontal shaft, substantially asdescribed.

5. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a gas-holderhaving a movable bell, of a generating-chamber, a carbid-containersupported above the same comprising a stationary frame having a seriesof buckets pivotally mounted therein, a hook on each of said buckets, anupright shaft supported in said frame having at its lower end abevelgear, a horiz'ontaljshaft having a bevel gear meshing with that ofthe upright shaft, an arm mounted at one end on the opposite end'of saidupright shaft-,a curved arm pivotally mounted on the free end of saidarm and having a hook adapted to successively engage the hooks of saidbuckets, and means operated by said bell for revolving said horizontalshaft, substantially as described.

6. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a gas-holderhaving a movable bell, of a generating chamber, ajcarbid-containersupported above the same comprising a stationary frame having a seriesof buckets pivotally mounted therein, a hook on each of said buckets, anupright shaft supported in said frame having at its lower end abevelgear, a horizontal shaft having a bevel-gear meshing with that ofthe upright shaft and having one end projecting beyond the generator andprovided with a ratchet-wheel, an arm mounted at one end on the oppositeend of said upright shaft, a curved arm pivotally mounted on the freeend of said arm and having a hook adapted to successively engage thehooks of said buckets, a pawl carried by said bell and engaging theteeth of said ratchet at a given point in the fall of said bell wherebyto turn said horizontal shaft in one direction and through the mechanismdescribed to successively dump said buckets, a dial having a series ofnumbers circularly arranged thereon and corresponding with the number ofsaid buckets, and an indicator carried by said horizontal shaft andturning therewith in operativc relation with said dial, substantially asdescribed.

7. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with a cylindersupporting a generating-chamber in its lower portion, of a funnelsecured in the upper end of said cylinder in a manner to securely closethe same and having a spout extending down toward said generating-chamber, said funnel communicating at its upper end with aclosedcompartment, a carbid-container supported in said closed com=partment, means for discharging carbid therefrom into said funnel, and asafety device comprising an upright vessel having water therein, adischarge-pipe leading from the top of said vessel and a pipe leadingfrom said closed compartment and having within said vessel a dependingend submerged in the water thereof, the combination operating asdescribed.

8. The combination with a generator and a gas-holder, of a liquid-sealdevice comprising an upright vessel having water therein, a pipeaifording communication between said generator and said vessel andhaving within the latter an upright extension, a drum loosely inclosingsaid upright pipe and havinga lower open end-constantly submerged in thewater of said vessel, a float rigidly supported from said drum andnormally held by the weight thereof submerged in the water, and a pipeleading from the upper part of said vessel to said gas-holder,substantially as described.

9. The combination with a generator and a gas-holder, of a liquid-sealdevice comprising an upright vessel having water therein, a pipeaffording communication between said generator and said vessel andhaving within the latter an upright extension, a drum loosely inclosingsaid upright pipe and havinga lower open end constantly submerged in thewater of said vessel, a float rigidly supported from said drum, andnormally held by the weight thereof submerged in the water, means forlimiting the movements of said drum, and a pipe leading from the upperpart of said vessel to said gas-holder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDWARD S.- MARTINDALE.

Witnesses:

H. W. NEILY, EDWARD LINDSEY.

